In a move to detect persons entering the country who may have terror linkages, the government will be implementing the “immigration, visa and foreigners’ registration and tracking’ (IVFRT) project aimed at
identifying and tracking the movement of foreigners in the country. IVFRT would use biometric systems and intelligent document scanners to authenticate the identities.
A meeting of the Cabinet committee on economic affairs on Thursday approved a mission mode project titled “Immigration, Visa and Foreigners’ Registration and Tracking (IVFRT)”, an official spokesperson said. The Rs 1,011-crore project to modernise and upgrade the entire range of immigration services would be implemented over the next four-and-a-half years by the Union home ministry. The project is aimed at developing and implementing a secure and integrated service delivery framework that would facilitate legitimate travellers while strengthening security. The first phase of the project would be implemented in Dhaka, London, four immigration check-posts (ICPs) at places including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and three foreigners regional registration office at these three metros.
The second phase would cover all other missions abroad and places in India and is expected to be completed by September 2014. The National Institute for Smart Government (NSIG) had been asked to generate a comprehensive e-Governance solution for immigration, visa issuance and foreigners’ registration and tracking functions. The NSIG’s Detailed Project Report was finalised in consultation with the ministries of home and external affairs, department of information technology, Bureau of Immigration and National Informatics Centre.